The Aftermath of Rita September 24, 2005
What a crazy 24 hours. Where do I begin? I guess I should start with the fact that we’re safe and all of my family is safe. That’s the most important thing.
Rita shifted to the east before making landfall, so we were affected more here in Lafayette than we expected. We got some major wind and rain overnight. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t scared, but it all turned out to be ok here. We lost power overnight, but it was restored around 10:30 this morning. Our cable was also out, and we got that back around 6:30pm. I’m so glad that we’re able to get information now.
There really isn’t too much damage in our immediate area. Screens were blown off windows and things like that. We did get a lot of water here, though, and some of the streets are flooded.
I was terrified about how my parent’s city fared. It took a direct hit from the eye wall. I was so scared that they would have nothing to go home to.
Once we got cable back, I was able to tune into the Lake Charles TV station and watch their coverage. The meteorologists had gone out around town and filmed for about an hour. I was able to call my mom and talk her through how everything looked while I watched.
It’s not pretty, but it’s better than I expected. I was so scared that there would be nothing but foundations left. That’s not the case. There are a lot, I mean a lot, of trees down. There is also a lot of flooding. Several of the streets are impassible. Many power lines are down. Shingles have been blown off roofs. The lake (Lake Charles has a big lake, as the name would imply) is higher than it’s ever been and is spilling over the seawall, although it’s not as bad as to flood downtown as they had feared. It could have all been much worse.
I got a call from my mom a little while ago. She was calling to let me know that my uncle had managed to make it into the city and had driven by all of my family member’s houses. My grandparent’s house is ok. My parent’s house fared a little worse. One of the big windows in my their bedroom has been blown out, so the rain is getting in there. Also, a big tree in their backyard fell on one of their storage sheds. The roads are flooded, but it doesn’t look like the water has gotten up into the houses.
I can’t tell you how much better I feel to know that my parent’s will have something to go home to. That’s the house we grew up in, and I couldn’t imagine it not being there. I was literally sick to my stomach this morning thinking about it, but I’m breathing a little easier now.
Obviously there’s going to have to be some clean up done. My plan is to go over and help my dad with it whenever he goes back to do so. We’ll just have to wait and see when that will be.
I imagine that we’ll be talking about this one for a while. I’m just so thankful that all of my loved ones are ok and that they will all have homes to return to. So very thankful.
- Posted in : various other ramblings
- Author : amanda
Comments»
Very glad to hear you and your family all made it through safely and that the house wasn’t too badly damaged anyway.
I hope you can do something relaxing over the rest of the weekend before going to help clean things up. Your nerves must be completely shot with everything that’s been going on!
I am so glad to hear that you and your family and your houses are all okay (excepting what sounds like fairly minor damage in the grand scheme of things). Thank you for the update – I was thinking of you.
Phew. I’m so sorry that your parent’s house was damaged but very relieved to hear that everyone is OK.
Glad to hear you are all alright. Keep us updated.
I’m glad to hear you’re alright and that your parents’ house is relatively okay. I hope this was the last hurricane LA goes through for a long, long time!
WHEW… SO glad you guys made it ok and SO happy your parents are ok too.
Mom and Dad’s house is fine.. they managed to sneak back into Sulphur yesterday and are going to stay there since they actually have running water for showers. Unlike my aunt and uncle in DQ who have nothing for water.
Mom and Dad also have outgoing phone lines, so they’re ok. They’re saying it’ll be NOVEMBER before the power is back on. Most of the main switching offices were knocked out so those have to be fixed first. then businesses… then homes. blah.
Tell your parents to go to the Fema website and sign up. Mom called me this morning at the asscrack of dawn wanting me to sign up for them. I guess it’ll take up to 14 days for them to get any assistance.
So glad you and your family are safe. . . Thinking of you all.
IJWTS wow! Why can’t I think of tihngs like that?